Nocatee construction set to begin

When finished, development to have 14,200 homes

Twenty percent of Nocatee's 14,200 future homes could be ready for occupancy in early 2007, the project's master developer announced Thursday.

Richard T. Ray, partner of the Jacksonville-based PARC Group, said two large national home builders -- Toll Brothers and Pulte Homes -- will build 2,900 homes on 800 acres of the development's 15,000 acres.

"Since the project has been approved (in 2001), we've been waiting for permits from the Water Management District and the Army Corps of Engineers. It's a lengthy process on a project this size," Ray said. "We expected to start a long time ago."

Nocatee facts:

Nocatee straddles the St. Johns-Duval county line, with 12,800 acres in St. Johns and 2,200 acres in Duval.

This community has a 25-year projected build out totaling 30,000 to 35,000 people and 14,200 homes, 5 million square feet of commercial and retail space, 270 acres of neighborhood and community parks, nine school sites and 4,700 acres of greenways.

The land is owned by SONOC, a subsidiary of DDI Inc. The Davis family, which founded Winn-Dixie stores, owns DDI.

The developer is The PARC Group of Jacksonville. Prosser Hallock Inc. is project manager.

Water and power will be provided by Jacksonville Electric Authority.

Time line:

In 2000, Nocatee was proposed as a development of regional impact. The developer also proposed a new land use classification called "New Town" for developments of more than 5,000 units or 5,000 acres.

In 2001, Nocatee received approval from the St. Johns County Commission, the Jacksonville City Council and the Northeast Florida Regional Planning Council.

In 2005, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers approves Nocatee's permits. Construction begins on the County Road 210 widening.

Important features:

The Nocatee Greenway is a 4,700-acre network of upland and wetland habitat that provides and protects important wildlife corridors. It connects the St. Johns River, Durbin Creek, Twelve Mile Swamp, Tolomato River Basin and the Atlantic Ocean and provides migratory corridors and safe havens for wildlife. The greenway also provides the public with many recreational opportunities such as bicycling, hiking, bird watching, jogging and horseback riding.

The Nocatee Preserve is 2,400 acres of pristine, waterfront land, fronting 3.5 miles of the Tolomato River (Intracoastal Waterway). The Preserve is in essence a substantive extension of Guana State Park and Guana River Wildlife Management Area. The Preserve will also create important wildlife habitat corridors connecting ecologically sensitive lands.

The Corps of Engineers granted Nocatee its long-awaited permits earlier this year.

In a prepared statement, the PARC Group said Detroit-based Pulte Homes plans an "active adult community" of 2,000 homes, town homes and condominiums plus two "amenity centers."

In addition, Philadelphia-based Toll Brothers plans to build 900-home Coastal Oaks, a community of town homes and single-family homes in various price ranges. These will be divided into 11 different villages with amenities such as swimming pools, fitness centers, clubhouse and a 10-acre recreation park.

Toll Brothers is active in St. Johns County and is also building Tuscany in St. Augustine Shores, St. Johns Forest, The Colony on Greenbriar Road and some homes in Palencia.

Brian Loftus, assistant vice president of Toll Brothers, said, "(Nocatee) will be the biggest project Toll Brothers is building in Northeast Florida."

Pre-sales could start as early as the spring or summer of 2006, Loftus said.

Both developments sit just west of the Nocatee Preserve, a 2,400 natural area stretching for 3.5 miles along the Tolomato River and donated to the county as a public park.

They will be separated by Nocatee's spine road and part of the Nocatee Greenway, a natural trail system that runs throughout the property.

Scott Clem, assistant county administrator for operations, said the developer began widening County Road 210 about three weeks ago as part of its agreed-upon $150 million in highway improvements. Parts of the C.R. 210 realignment will become "Nocatee Parkway."

Clem said a later phase will involve six-laning U.S. 1 north to St. Augustine Road in Duval County.

"They have submitted final construction plans for most of the major road work," Clem said.

Still to come for the PARC Group are submitting applications and approvals for roads and drainage inside the villages, Clem said. After those are obtained, the developer can then apply for building permits.

"They can't do anything until Nocatee Parkway is completed," he said.

Nocatee's development order says the C.R. 210 widening must be "commenced" prior to the issuance of building permits.

"It's almost like they are any other development now," Clem said. "Each of the different villages has a master plan and three or four of those have been approved."